Alabama runoff elections are second-round primary contests held when no candidate in the first primary wins more than 50 percent of the vote. The top two finishers advance, and the winner becomes the party’s nominee for the general election. Because Alabama does not register voters by party, the rules on who can vote in a runoff hinge on what you did in the first primary, not on any party affiliation on file.
When a Runoff Happens
A runoff is required any time no single candidate captures a majority of the votes cast for a given office. Majority means more than 50 percent. A two-person race ends in the primary once one candidate crosses that line. In a crowded field of three or more, the vote often splits enough that no one gets there.
When that happens, the two candidates with the highest vote totals move on. No one else appears on the runoff ballot. Whoever gets the most votes in the runoff wins the nomination outright, no matter the margin.
When the Runoff Is Held
State law sets the runoff for the fourth Tuesday after the initial primary. The 2026 statewide primary is May 19, so the primary runoff falls on June 16, 2026.1Alabama Secretary of State. Administrative Calendar 2026 Statewide Election Those four weeks are what county officials have to certify the first round, print new ballots, and ready polling places.
Which Ballot You Can Vote
Alabama runs open primaries. You do not pick a party when you register. You pick one at the polls by choosing which party’s ballot to take. That choice follows you into the runoff.
If you voted in one party’s primary, you can only vote in that same party’s runoff.2Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code Title 17-13-7.1 – Persons Entitled to Vote in Primary Runoff Elections A voter who took a Democratic ballot in May cannot take a Republican ballot in June, and vice versa. The rule is there to stop voters from crossing over to influence the other party’s nomination.
If you sat out the primary, you can vote in either party’s runoff. You made no party choice in the first round, so you are not locked in.
The Penalty for Crossing Over
Knowingly voting in the wrong party’s runoff falls under Alabama Code Section 17-17-36, which prohibits voting when not entitled to do so. It is a Class C felony, punishable by one year and one day up to ten years in prison. Poll workers can see which primary ballot you received, and that record carries into the runoff.
Registering in Time
Voter registration closes 14 days before any election, including runoffs.3Alabama Secretary of State. Frequently Asked Questions For the June 16, 2026 runoff, the deadline is June 2, 2026. If you already voted in the primary, you are registered and do not need to do anything more.
At the Polls
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Alabama requires photo ID to vote. Accepted forms include:
- Alabama driver’s license or nondriver ID card
- Alabama photo voter ID card (issued free by the state)
- U.S. passport
- Federal or state government employee photo ID
- Student or employee photo ID from an Alabama college or university
- U.S. military photo ID
- Tribal photo ID
If you have none of these, you can get a free Alabama photo voter ID card from your county Board of Registrars or the Secretary of State’s office.
Voting Absentee
Absentee voting in a runoff follows the same process as any other Alabama election, but the four-week turnaround leaves little room. Start early.
Requesting the Ballot
Contact your county’s Absentee Election Manager, usually in the Circuit Clerk’s office. Submit the application with a copy of your photo ID. A mailed application has to arrive at least seven days before the election. Hand-delivered applications must be in at least five days before.
Marking and Returning the Ballot
After marking the ballot, seal it in the provided envelope and sign the affidavit on the outside. The affidavit has to be witnessed by a notary public or by two adults. Line up your witnesses or notary before you fill anything out.
The return deadline depends on how you send it:
- By mail: must reach the Absentee Election Manager by noon on Election Day.
- Hand-delivered: must arrive by 5 p.m. the day before the election.
Hand delivery closes a full day earlier than the mail deadline.
Emergency Medical Absentee Ballots
If you are hospitalized or hit a medical emergency within five days of the election, Alabama has a separate emergency absentee process. Your attending physician has to describe and certify the emergency on the application. Both the application and the completed ballot have to reach the Absentee Election Manager by noon on Election Day.4Alabama Secretary of State. Absentee Voting Information
You can designate someone to pick up and return the emergency ballot for you if you cannot leave the hospital. The designee handles the paperwork, but you still have to mark the ballot yourself.4Alabama Secretary of State. Absentee Voting Information